Linus27

Looking to buy a Fender Precision Fretless and my options are limited and kind of down to three choices. A vintage Fender from the 70's, a Crafted in Japan Fender or a secondhand Fender Tony Franklin model. I know I could look at other manufacturers but all my other bases are Fender's and I just love them. I think the vintage will be too expensive unless I look at a late 70's model. The Crafted in Japan would be lovely, won't cost much but is hard to find so I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the Tony Franklin fretless precision? I've played one for about 5 minutes and it seemed nice and I really like the option of the bridge pickup but not sure if the extra cost is worth it over say just a standard fretless Precision. Anyone got any thoughts or experience of these basses.

I so want one of those Ampeg PF-50T heads. So missed the good deal Kenny's were doing. Your rig looks lovely.

Yeah, our other halves know it's what we do and we earn good money so it all helps. Plus it's never going to be forever, only being doing it for 30 years 😂🤣😁

The band is called The Dolomites and we are basically a 50's/60's party band. To be honest, our guitarist is just really good at getting us gigs and its also worth mentioning that this is our first year together so not bad for a new band. We do have a few promo videos but we dont really use them to get gigs. This first one we recorded at the start of the year. It us miming to our own studio recording on top of a pub roof 😁 Cost us £50 as well 😁 This second one we did a few months back in an amazing American diner in Horsham. About a third of our gigs are acoustic so we wanted to try and capture this by doing a rough live acoustic "around the campfire" type video. Also worth saying that this Kala UBass I also bought in 2018 and is certainly a best buy for me. You can also see the Fender Mike Dirnt in the background so both of my 2018 best buys in one video 😁

Hahaha well the total for the year is 117. Plus, I did two dep gigs for a Children in Need event the other weekend so my total for the year will be 119. It would of been more but we had to turn a few dates down 😊

Well, in total we have 117 gigs this year. We would of done more but some dates we were not available. Next year we already have about 80 gigs booked and a couple already in 2020. No, nope doing it for a living, we all have day jobs sadly. We just work really hard and really enjoy what we do. In the summer months we've had it where we've done 3 gigs a day and we play mostly clubs, pubs, private parties, weddings and festivals, be it music or beer.

Quite simply the best is my Fender Precision Mike Dirnt signature in yellow. It is pretty close to being perfection in bass terms. I love it and I've had two or three sound engineers say to me at soundchecks that it sounds amazing. Considering I've done 113 gigs this year and 13 have been with this bass and it's the only bass to ever get these comments then I'm pleased.

Are these actually 800 watts or is that with an extension cab?

Thanks Dave, one set purchased 😁

As in Rotosound Jazz Flats?

About to order a set of flats for my Precision and have no idea what to try. I've always used rounds so want to get something that's going to feel similar in tension. As for tone then just a balanced, warm rounded tone. Not after a big, fat, deep old school thump. Tempted to try the LaBella 760FL but worried about tension and being too thumpy. Fender's sound interesting but dont want anything too bright. Half tempted to try the Adagio ones but dont want my first proper taste of flats to be ruined. Any suggestions?

Will be interesting to know how he had it EQ'ed and what bass he was using. Sounds good though from your report.

I'm beginning to come to this conclusion. Since using Class D and light weight speakers for the last 10 years or so, I've never been totally blown away by the sound and I'm so tempted to go back to a 4x10. Not sure what though. The last rig I used was a big old TC Electronic 4x10 and an old BH500 head and it sounded amazing. Before that, I used an Ashdown Rootmaster head and Ashdown 1x15 and my Precision seriously sounded incredible. Just not keen on the extra size and weight that comes with it compared to my MarkBass LM3 and 2 x NY112 cabs.

Love the bass sound on these recordings. Sounds like a Precision to me. From 1m13s this just sounds lovely.

Wow, do I love this. Its not too far removed from my own stuff that I write but more complicated and technical but in a similar vein. Totally love it. The piano is gorgeous but that bass sound is to die for, its like having warm sweet honey trickle into your ears, its just lovely.

Cheers Dave. Its penciled in for March and it could be huge so I'll keep you posted.

I have twin brother and sister

Support I'm afraid. All early days but as soon as I get more details I will let you know. Don't want to say too much at this stage as details are sketchy and not entirely sure of the format yet.

Thanks for your help Russ as always.

I am currently using a Line 6 Relay G30 Digital Wireless Guitar System and as a whole, it has been pretty good and reliable for generally the smaller club type venue's I have played at. However, I am finding that the range is not great and does occasionally lose signal if I go anything like 15 - 20ft away. Next year, I am penciled in to play at the O2 Arena and so I am looking at something that is going to give me much better range and signal. No idea what the pro's use on large venues but any advice appreciated.

What were the 2x10's on each Markbass rig? Were they Markbass speakers?

I class myself as a semi pro musician. My logic behind this is I have a day job still but every week (mostly weekends) I am playing three or four gigs, I am getting paid for these gigs, I am booked by establishments or members of the public be it weddings, parties, events, clubs etc. and are paying me for this service. I have done 118 gigs this year and have been paid but not enough to support me fully and give up the day job. I consider this semi pro.

Yes they do but I've been told that there's only a few UK factories making bass strings and Rotosound and Elites come from the same production line.

I've used Elite Stadiums for about 28 years and find they are the best strings for me. Have tried others but always come back to the Elites. I have been told Rotosound's are the same string as they come from the same manufacturer and currently trying a set of 66's. They do seem very similar buy maybe a bit more tension.